Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-01-09
TEE PoLAR nEAR.
Habits or the Animal I'm Kss ley
Bome-A Huge one Killed. 4

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lsan francisco Chronicle. December ieth.l
susfenance OF life forms the chief care OF
The Mute race Of Alaska; the struggle 10
obtain q food supply Is the one absorbing
thought throughout the entire cycle OF
their existence. Nature seems TO have pro-
vfded certain animals peculiarly adapted 70
the hyperborean region and eminently
Btted to afford sustenance 10 the race who
have to withstand the exigencies
and severe climatic changes Of an
Arctic zone. The principal animals
inhabiting the waters OF Northwest
ern Alaska are the various members OF
the seal family. Seal meat, az cooked by
the natives, is OF dirty brick-red tint,
owing 10 the fact that when killed the seal
issImpIy skinned, the blood remaining in
the carcass, acting as a colOring matter TO
the meat. To unaccustomed stomachs seal-
meat is Unpalatable, its taste resembling
fish more than flesh, while the oily odor Is
OF course prevalent. But II when newly
caught seal Is bed and the flesh allowed
to soak for few hours, the meat, either
fried or baked, becomes palatlble. Wnen
frozen there is scarcely any ilayor pcrcepti'
bic In the meat.
UrSuS AmeriCdRuS or the white polar
bear Is also foOd-supplier for the Mutes.
The extent OF Bruins travels in the Attic
region are far and wide. Observations by
Captain Healy, OF the United States Reve-
nue. Marine, prove the fact that the polar
bears southern limit Of range is ST. Mat
thew island-G0o 50I north latitude-in the
Behring sea. believe that few OF these
bears were seen some years ago near the
Seal islands. Probably the season was
late one. and they were seen upon large
ice.6oe drifting. At st, Matthew the polar
bears have lairs and dens among the rocky
glens that diversity that island. There,
it is presumed, the young bears are
torn, or at least a proportion OF
the cubs. The Point Belcher ma
tiyes told me that in December, when the
sun goes away entirely, the she bears make
o snow house out upon the sea ice and
there give birth to their young. There is
some evidence of the truth OF this state
ment, as il Is a rare thing to obtain the skin
OF q female bear shot during the winter.
The UrSd AmeTicdnuS feeds upon seal and
warus and dead drift whales; although
disdaining to devour the blubber, the flesh
is greedily consumed. A carcass upon
which bear has passed his gastronomic
judgment reveals the skin and its fatty
lining torn asunder, while the flesh is cut
up int strips and shreds by the powerful
claws and teeth. One single blow OF a
bears claws alighting upon a seals head
suffices to kill him, and dragged upon the
ice, meal is soon dispatched.
The largest white bear ever saw was
shot in November, 1885. His measurements
were II feet inches from tip OF tail to
nose, feet inches girth, 10 inches across
from ear TO ear, and 7.inch skull, while the
track OF his paw measured 113 inches.
Generally the average measurement is 8
feet in length. In summer the hairy coat
Of the polar bear turns TO a dingy yellow,
and its pelt then becomes useless. These
hears are arrant towards, and will not at
tack any one unless there are two or
three in company. AS soon as they
scent man approaching they run away
as fast as they can. There are but few
records Of a bear killing any native
along the northwestern coast. The Mutes
are very partial TO white bear meat, but the
blubber they reject, and even the dogs. un-
less they are very hungry, turn up their
noses at the oily mass. II Is almost an i'm.
possibility to obtain an entire skin OF any
kind OF bear. The MuteS throughout the
Territory cut of the head and claws, and
either throw them into the sea or running
water or else bury them i'm the ground.
II his is done to enable the hunters TO kill
more bears, and the idea is that il the other
bears see the heads or claws OF their dead
friends they will leave the district.
Brown bears frequent the mountainous
regions OF the Arctic coast. They follow
the herds OF deer in their summer migra-
tions, but are seldom seen in the winter,
that season being the alternating period.
Their pelts are disposed OF to the traders
and Whalers.